Woman sentenced in Palo school bomb threat

The woman accused of calling in a bomb threat to the Palo Community Schools office last year was sentenced in Ionia County 8th Circuit Court Tuesday by Judge David Hoort.

Veronica Haring of Ronald Township was sentenced to four years probation, plus fines, costs, fees and restitution. Under the conditions of her probation, she also must receive mental health counseling, and she must not be within 500 feet of the school.

Her sentence did not include additional jail time; however, she is currently serving a 30-day sentence from Ionia County 64A District Court on a violation of probation. At the time she allegedly called in the bomb threat, she was serving a 12-month period of probation after a conviction for retail fraud in the second degree in March 2012, according to court documents.

Haring pleaded no contest to one count of false report or threat of a bomb or harmful device. Students and staff were evacuated and bomb-sniffing dogs were brought to the school after a young female voice called the school at 12:50 p.m. Nov. 28 and said, "There's a bomb in the school," before hanging up. No bomb was detected.

There is a "deep concern in the Palo community" surrounding this case, said Ionia County Prosecutor Ron Schafer.

"I don't know why this particular defendant is causing so much concern out there," Schafer said. "Many people are very interested in the outcome. They are watching very closely."

Hoort told Haring she is "right on the edge," and warned her that if she violated probation she could be sent to jail or to prison.

"For me, this is a difficult case to completely understand," Hoort said. "You have significant support and you have done many things well in the community. I haven't figured out why what happened, happened."

Cynthia Stewart-Matzen

A Belding woman who was out on bond while awaiting trial was sent back to the Ionia County Jail by Judge David Hoort Tuesday.

Cynthia Stewart-Matzen, who is facing three counts of arson after allegedly setting her house on fire in 2010, pleaded no contest to violating her bond by using alcohol. Her attorney, Thomas Chadwick, told the court his client did use alcohol, but did so at home.

This is her second bond violation. Her first led to a conviction in Ionia County 64A District Court for operating while intoxicated, where Judge Raymond Voet ordered a daily test for alcohol, said Ionia County Prosecutor Ron Schafer.

Chadwick also said Stewart-Matzen has acknowledged she has "a drinking problem, but is on the road to recovery," and that she has personal issues related to her husband's health. He pointed out that his client's underlying crime is arson, not an alcohol crime, and said she is neither a flight risk or danger. However, he suggested his client be placed on a tether that would include an alcohol monitoring system and GPS, paid for by Stewart-Matzen.

Hoort revoked Stewart-Matzen's bond, noting it was her second violation.

"I am sympathetic to your personal concerns, but I'd have a hard time living with myself is something happened while you were out on bond," he said. "I don't mind trying to do something to help you, but I can't justify you being out of jail with an admitted alcohol problem."